Pencil sharpener



OCL 24, 1933. E. c. HOFFMANN PENCIL SHARPENER Filed May 15, 1930 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 PATENT OFFICE UNllrlazDl STATES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to pencil Sharpeners, and

more particularly to electrically driven pencil- Sharpeners for desk or wall use.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a pencil Sharpener having rotary cutters adapted to be driven by an electric motor and provided with means for dellecting the shavings into a receptacle which may be readily withdrawn for emptying.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a pencil Sharpener driven by an electric motor with a switch for opening and closing the circuit to the electric motor, operable by inserting the pencil in the Sharpener.

Other objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section through a portion of the device on line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 Fig. 3.

The embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawing is adapted for desk use. It comprises a base 1 which supports the frame and housing. I prefer to make the frame separate from the housing so that the entire mechanism may be removed from the base and housing. The housing includes the side plates 2, end plate 3, top plate 4 and an oblique front plate 5. A back plate 6, a part of the frame structure, completes the housing when the frame is in operative position.

The frame includes with the back plate, a base plate 7, skeleton front, oblique, and top frame members 8, 9 and 10, respectively. The housing may be secured to the base in any convenient manner, as by the Screws 11 and the frame may be secured to the base, if desired, in any convenient manner as by the screws 12.

The base may have extended side portions in which may be cut grooves 13 for the insertion of pencils. A plate 14 extends diagonally through the housing and serves as a support for the mechanism and a deector for the shavings, as will be more apparent from later description. A frame member 15 extends between the base plate 7 and the plate 14.

A Sharpener of the Standard type is mounted on the upper side of the plate 14 and-includes a frame having end blocks 16 and 17 rigidly secured together by ribs 18. Fluted cutting rollers 55 19 are mounted for rotation between the blocks 16 and 17. A plate 20 is secured by downwardly extending lugs 21 to the plate 14 and is formed so as to include an internal gear 22 which meshes with pinions 23 secured to the rollers 19. A driving shaft 24 is secured to the block 17 and is 60 journalled in a boss 25 in the plate 14.

A frame member 26 secured at its ends, respectively, to the frame members 8 and 10, is formed to provide a journal and a support for the block 16. Itis also formed to include a tubular member 27 which extends into communication with an opening 28 in the oblique plate 5 and arranged so that a pencil may be inserted through the opening 28 into the Sharpener.

A motor 29 having a Shaft 30 carrying a pulley 70 31 is mounted on brackets 32 beneath the plate 14. The shaft 24 of the Sharpener carries a pulley- 33 in alignment with the pulley 31 and a belt 34 is provided by which the motor may drive the Sharpener. A tension pulley 35 mounted on a bracket secured to the frame member 15 may be provided to maintain the tension of the belt.

An electric switch is provided for closing the circuit to the electric motor by connections not shown. The switch includes the terminals 36 and a movable conductor 37 on the end of a lever 38. A'roller 39 is provided on one end of the lever at a slot in the tubular portion 2'7 and extends within the tube. An idler lever 40 carries a roller 41 positioned through the tube 27 opposite to the roller 39. Springs 42 are provided to bear against the levers 38 and 40 respectively, so as to maintain the rollers 39 and 41 in a normal position to partially close the tube 27. The insertion of a pencil through the tube 27 spreads the rollers apart causing the cnductor 37 on the end of the lever 38 to contact with the terminals 36.

A drawer 43 passes through openings in the front plate 3, the frame member 8 and the plate 14. Its position is Such as to collect shavings cut by the Sharpener and deected by the plate 14.

The operation of the device will vbe understood from the foregoing description of the structure, and it will be seen that the invention accomplishes its purpose.

It is to be understood that parts of the invention may be used to advantage without the whole and that various changes may be made in details of construction within the scope of the appended claim withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

A device of the class described comprising a housing having a base, a top plate, Vertical side 110 plates and an inclined front plate, said inclined front plate having an orice to permit the insertion of a pencil to be sharpened. a diagonal plate in the housing parallel with said inclined front plate. a ncil Sharpener having rotating cutters located lthe housing above said diagonal plate 

